‘Senegal’s neighbor to the east’ NYT Mini Crossword clue answer and hints

Africa is a large continent made up of many countries, and Senegal is one of the most prominent, known for producing an array of world-class soccer stars. But we’re here to find out who its “neighbor to the east” is in today’s NYT Mini.

‘Senegal’s neighbor to the east’ NYT Mini clue hints

• Hint one: You can get the answer from “Muhammad Ali” if you think hard enough.
• Hint two: It has another vowel.
• Hint three: Timbuktu is located here.
• Hint four: Ends with “I.”

Boy, they were some tough hints to come up with, and now it’s time for to reveal the tricky answer.

‘Senegal’s neighbor to the east’ answer in NYT Mini Crossword Aug. 16

“MALI” is “Senegal’s neighbor to the east” for one across in the Aug. 16 NYT Mini Crossword.

Yes, your geographical knowledge needs to be on point to crack this first time without the other letters filled in. Mali is in Muhammad Ali if you break it down with some deep thinking, and the ancient city of Timbuktu is one of the country’s star attractions.

Aug. 16 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle: All clues and answers

Across

• 1A Senegal’s neighbor to the east — MALI
• 5A ___ Allen White, star of TV’s “The Bear” — JEREMY
• 7A Make a getaway — ESCAPE
• 8A What’s longer in the morning and evening than it is at noon — SHADOWS
• 9A Voices below altos — TENORS
• 10A No longer in the Drafts folder — SENT

Down

• 6D Coniferous trees with red berries — YEWS
• 1D Interlocks (with) — MESHES
• 2D Esoteric — ARCANE
• 3D Give false hope to — LEAD ON
• 4D Ship into the country — IMPORT
• 5D “Surely you___!” — JEST

‘Senegal’s neighbor to the east’ NYT difficulty, explained

I don’t proclaim to be a geography expert, but I have decent enough knowledge of countries, capitals, and flags. But knowing exactly where Mali is on the map is one step too far. This Mini Crossword has several six-letter words much easier to fill in, and finding these is your best chance of cracking Mali—leaving me to assign a four out of five difficulty rating.

How to play more puzzles like NYT Mini Crossword

Get yourself on the LA Times, Washington Post, Strands, and Spelling Bee daily word games if you’re not already. They all offer an excellent source of puzzles and logical thinking designed to keep your brain active and engaged—plus, they’re fun!